EVANSTON, Ill. -- Bren Spillane and Michael Massey hit back-to-back homers in the second inning and the No. 24 Illinois baseball team never trailed Friday in a 5-4 win at Northwestern. Illini starter Quinn Snarskis (3-0) turned in seven strong innings, allowing only one run on three hits to take the win.
"It was a good baseball game," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "I thought we played well and Northwestern did a good job. If you look, there was no hero today, it was a team effort."
Illinois (13-5, 1-0 Big Ten) had seven hits from seven different players. Eight of nine Illini in the lineup reached base and the only one who did not, Jack Yalowitz, had an RBI groundout.
Snarskis allowed a run in the second before putting up five straight zeros to end his day. He pitched to soft contact from start to finish, walking two and striking out three.
"I'll take that outing every day from our starters," said Hartleb. "Quinn was outstanding."
Northwestern (7-9, 0-1 Big Ten) fought back with three runs in the eighth before closer Joey Gerber shut the door. Gerber struck out the first two batters of the ninth on six pitches, then allowed an infield single and got a weak popup to end the game.
Quinn Lavelle (2-2) took the loss for Northwestern by allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings.
The two teams are back Saturday at Miller Park for the second game of a three-game set.
Notes
• Illinois has won 12 of its last 14 games.
• Zac Taylor extended his career-long reached base streak to 28 games.
• Michael Massey extended his career-long reached base streak to 23 games.
• Ben Troike extended his career-long reached base streak to 23 games. Troike has hit safely in six straight games.
• Michael Michalak extended his career-long hitting streak to six games.
• Grant Van Scoy extended his career-long hitting streak to six games.
• Doran Turchin extended his hitting streak to five games.
• Illinois is 11-0 when leading after four innings.
• Illinois is 11-2 when scoring first.
• Illinois is 12-1 when scoring five or more.
• Bren Spillane's last five games: .667 (12-18), 6 HR, 3 2B, 15 RBI, 9 R, 33 total bases, .739 on-base percentage, 1.833 slugging percentage
